CNN Can’t Let ‘Maryland Man’ Narrative Go

As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made good on a promise to detain and then deport Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, CNN still couldn’t let go of the “Maryland man” narrative with which legacy media outlets have flooded the airwaves since his story first made the evening news.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the Trump administration is asking that Abrego Garcia be deported to Uganda — but his attorneys have already filed a new lawsuit asking that he be kept in the United States while they contest that order.

CNN reported on the latest turn of events, but could not let go of the “Maryland man” narrative:

Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was unlawfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after turning himself in to a facility in Baltimore.

A number of others dropped the nearly-ubiquitous term, but most of them did so in mocking tones:

“Goodbye, ‘Maryland Man,'” Townhall posted.

Goodbye, “Maryland Man”. pic.twitter.com/DR2nwaPsCS

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 25, 2025

Several shared video footage of a press conference where Abrego Garcia pleaded with the public for support as he fights the deportation order — and most pointed out the fact that he gave his remarks in Spanish, arguing that a person who was truly from Maryland might have done so in English.

“How many ‘Maryland Men’ can’t speak English?” one asked.

How many “Maryland Men” can’t speak English? pic.twitter.com/hxEO1Szt5y

— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) August 25, 2025

“The Maryland man brand lives on!” Fox News National Correspondent Bill Melugin added.

The Maryland man brand lives on! https://t.co/mF0NapW0qs

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 25, 2025

Abrego Garcia, a suspected MS-13 gang member and human trafficker, was initially deported to a Salvadoran prison, but was brought back to the United States — thanks in large part to the elected Democrats who went to the mat on his behalf and the media outlets that helped to paint him as an unwitting victim in what they suggested was President Donald Trump’s plan to deport as many people as possible.

NY Times: “Maryland man”

Fox: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia”

WaPo: “Maryland man”

Axios: “Maryland man”

USA Today: “Maryland father”

Only one of those stories is factual. The other four are pushing a narrative pic.twitter.com/hcSYXRFsFC

— John Hasson (@SonofHas) June 6, 2025